In Memoriam : Lee Smith

Visitation Information:A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 4th at 2:00 p.m. at First Parish Congregational Church, corner of Beach and Main Streets in Saco. Lee’s nephew, Minister Benjamin Sturgill of Madbury, NH, will be officiating at the memorial service with the help of Senior minister Dr. Rev. Doug Neilsen and Rev. Abby Haskell.

Obituary:LEE WESTON SMITH
August 27, 1949 – January 22, 2012

SACO – Lee Weston Smith, 62, of Saco, died peacefully surrounded by family at the home of his sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Norman Delage, in Old Orchard Beach on January 22nd, three weeks after receiving a diagnosis of liver cancer. Lee lived life to the fullest and just weeks before his sudden diagnosis and passing was outside chopping cords of wood. In his final days of life, his sister, Barbara, and sister-in-law, Kathy Smith, were honored to provide for his care and accompany him as far as they were able on this most sacred journey.

Lee was born in Syracuse, NY, and attended public schools in Connecticut until his family moved in 1966 to Saco, where he attended and graduated from Thornton Academy. A Vietnam-era veteran, following his military service Lee attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, College of Natural Sciences, Stockbridge School of Agriculture graduating with a degree in Animal Husbandry. A trained blacksmith, Lee worked professionally with race horses and other livestock. He was owner of several horses and The Carriage Trade, a horse drawn vehicle business serving tourists in Kennebunkport and Portsmouth. He later owned and operated Saco Bottle Redemption on North Street until his retirement. He had a deep love and abiding respect for animals and the land. He enjoyed and appreciated living in Maine, and also loved the State of Vermont, where he would visit a much-loved cousin, Bryant Haswell, in Morrisville. He looked forward each late summer and early autumn to attending the various state agricultural fairs with his siblings, and for many years spent every Wednesday evening with his two brothers restoring old autos or, most recently, building a race car. His great love and complete devotion to his mother, brothers, sisters, and their children had a profound affect on and changed the trajectory of each of their lives.

Shortly before his death, Lee asked that the family express on his behalf his deep gratitude for the compassionate and expert medical care he received from the team of doctors, nurses, and others at Togus Veteran’s Hospital in Augusta during the first few weeks of January following his unexpected cancer diagnosis. Both Lee and his family will be forever grateful to Togus for the deeply empathetic care he received.

Lee was predeceased by a brother, Scott Owen Smith, and his father Raymond Smith of Syracuse, NY. He is survived by his mother, Barbara Penley Stetson of Saco, five siblings, Peter Smith & wife Diane of Biddeford, Susan Sturgill of Hamilton, Ohio, Alan Smith & wife Kathy of Saco, Barbara Delage & husband Norman of Old Orchard Beach, and Nancy Cowles Bull of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, three nieces and ten nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 4th at 2:00 p.m. at First Parish Congregational Church, corner of Beach and Main Streets in Saco. Lee’s nephew, Minister Benjamin Sturgill of Madbury, NH, will be officiating at the memorial service with the help of Senior minister Dr. Rev. Doug Neilsen and Rev. Abby Haskell. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials may be made to The Animal Welfare Society, Post Office Box 43, West Kennebunk, Maine, 04094 (www.animalwelfaresociety.org). Online condolence messages can be left at the website of Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home, Saco, www.DCPate.com.

Dear Barbara & family, Lee was such a dear and gentle soul; his thoughtfulness and patience with Marge made her days happier and provided respite and reassurance for our family. Seeing him come to the library, allowing Barbara to enjoy her passionate love of reading, exemplified his love for his family. Our thoughts are with you all at this sad time.
Charlie & Ann